Despite this reality, they are still written. Perhaps I’m missing an opportunity to halt the streak. But, alas, like most newspaper types, the chance to grab the bullhorn one more time in this community that I love is too tempting.

As I thought about the typical farewell column clichés, a few jumped out. Here’s one: “I have no regrets.” Guess what? I do have regrets. But rather than call them that, I’m going to call them “wishes.” Here are a few:

— I wish I had spent more time experiencing the outdoors in this area. I’ve hiked to the falls at South Mountain Park and done some hiking at Crowders Mountain, but not enough at either place.

— I wish I had done more in my church.

— I wish, early in my career, I had been less strident and arrogant. I’m still guilty of that, but as I’ve grown older, it has become easier for me to find common ground or disagree respectfully.

— While I loved going to my children’s sporting event and rarely missed them, one that I decided I could take a pass on was the Fun Run. Boy, did I blow that one. I wish I had been there when my youngest made an epic kick around the final turn and won the darn thing while I was off playing golf or doing something lame like that. Bruce Boyles never lets me forget I missed that one.

— I wish I had been a better listener.

Another column cliché: “favorite memories.” There are many.

— Remember The Star Car? It suffered an untimely demise in a crash, but when we first launched, just as the Internet multi-media boom was starting, the “cool” factor was through the roof.

— Remember the Shelby Yarn scandal? It obviously was very painful to the affected employees, but I was so proud of our relentless coverage that shined the light on that scandal.

(Other big stories that carried lot of pain and stress but made me proud: Chris White scandal at Gardner-Webb; our coverage of the big ice storms; the battle over school merger, Yelton’s rest home).

— Remember when we adopted Laurel, Miss.? Our community felt so much pride over that.

— Remember the inaugural “Connect, Commit to Change” event? What a feeling of pride to see all those volunteers committing to help dozens of agencies.

— Then there are the warehouse full of personal memories – the birth of my three children and the recent graduation of my oldest. Wherever we end up, all of my children will claim Shelby as their birthplace. I’m glad about that.

Now, it hasn’t all been roses. There will be some things about this area I won’t miss.

Page 2 of 3 - — It’s infinitely better than when I first came to Cleveland County, but silly turf wars still crop up from time to time. They are counterproductive and unattractive to newcomers. I won’t miss those.

— I won’t miss people who can’t seem to walk the fine line between healthy debate and naysaying (or worse, those who don’t even try to walk that line). We’ve got some folks who really seem to find sustenance by railing against progress or change, in almost any form. And, of course, we also have a few extreme voices of hatred who aim only to destruct.

— On a related note, there is plenty of judgment in this (and every) town. Sometimes it feels like folks are fighting over that “first stone,” forgetting that is to be avoided, not sought. It’s funny to watch people contort themselves in an effort to disguise their judgmentalism as something legitimate.

— I won’t miss all those leaves in the fall! They are pretty in the trees, but a big pain on the ground.

— I won’t miss trying to get across Dixon Boulevard on Dekalb Street.

— I won’t miss paying higher gas prices than surrounding counties and I also won’t miss being frustrated that we can’t explain to readers why that is the case.

— I won’t miss ice storms.

Now, some things the absence of which will leave a little hole inside me:

— I will miss Star night, especially the faces of children for whom — you could just tell — this might be their most joyous night of the holiday

— Speaking of Christmas, I will miss seeing the Inn at Webbley all dressed up for the holidays

— I will miss the wintertime vigil of snow lovers – waiting and hoping for a winter wonderland. Those who don’t care for snow don’t understand the bond that we snow-lovers established.

— I will miss the American Legion World Series – if you’ve never been to a game, please break that string this summer.

- And, finally, the ultimate cliché – I will miss the people. But clichés are usually grounded in truth. And the people here are amazing.

Finally, we come to the final salutation – the granddaddy of all clichés.

The truth is, the guy who has written editorials for 16 years doesn’t really have the words to describe what this community and this newspaper has meant to me and my family. Our first child. Our first home. My first gig as editor. Dina’s judicial appointment. Our second and third children. Publisher. Parents of a graduate. All of that happened here and will forever be a series of chapters in the Foster family history. Here’s one thing I know – we’ve received more than we’ve given to this community. With no family here, our friends, church parishioners and colleagues helped us in so many ways.

Page 3 of 3 - And at the paper, so many top-notch journalists, salespeople, production workers, customer service experts and more have worked so hard – not for me, but for all of you and for this community.

While Shelby was a stopping point in many newspaper careers, while they were here Star employees gave so much to help bring you the best newspaper. Whatever success I achieved is solely because of their fine work and dedication. The folks here today are a particularly fine crop – you won’t notice one bit of difference in the quality of your Star in the days ahead.

So I leave you with the quote I have had on my Facebook “about” page for many years. It describes everything that I have grown to love about this county – the giving spirit of its residents; the kindness offered by our friends; the pursuit of excellence by The Star’s staff.

It is from the late Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist:

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Thank you, Cleveland County, for changing the world so many times during our time here.